Who had the best facial hair in the Civil War?

Smithsonian magazine is asking. They nominate 25 splendidly hirsute Civil War-era contestants and ask readers to vote for the gentleman with the best facial hair. It’s hard to pick just one. I do enjoy the extended sideburn styles, but the ZZ Top long styles and the full, rounded approach are also magnificent.

So far my top three are Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart, Union general Christopher C. Augur, and Union general John McAllister Schofield.

Pardon the flippant and abbreviated entry. Sleepy Sunday news, donchaknow. History news, anyway. The opposite of sleepy in current events.

4 thoughts on “Who had the best facial hair in the Civil War?

  1. You have the good old gas mask to thank for the disappearance of facial hair. And don’t forget our friend the louse–the reason what close-cut hair is the fashion statement of the modern military.

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